"Campus Update" is a weekly e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs to provide news and information to the college community. | |
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Mental Health Support During Middle East Conflict
As the fighting in the Middle East continues, and the horrific loss of innocent civilian life across the region climbs, members of our community may be experiencing stress or anxiety, or otherwise have feelings of unease. For individuals coping with the devastation of these events, support is available should you need to speak with someone:
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Theater Program Selects Everybody by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins for Fall Production
For its fall production, LaGuardia’s Theater Program will perform Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a modern adaptation of a medieval mystery play. Inspired by the 15th century morality play, Everyman, Jacobs-Jenkins’ play follows Everybody as they travel down a road toward life’s greatest mystery and confront the inevitable (their death). First performed Off-Broadway in 2017, Everybody has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “Everybody is an unpredictable, hilarious, and inventive inquiry into the ways individuals cope with mortality,” said James Ryan (J.R.) Caldwell, LaGuardia theater lecturer and director of the production. Tickets are available for shows from November 15 through November 20, performed in-the-round in the Black Box Theater (M-122).
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LaGuardia Nursing Program Ranked Number One (Again!)
LaGuardia’s Nursing Program has once again received top ranking among New York State—it is ranked #1 among two-year schools throughout the state. The new 2023–2024 rankings are from EduMed and are based on a combination of factors including affordability, accessibility, and commitment to student success. LaGuardia was honored for the Registered Nursing, Licensed Practical Nursing, and LPN to RN Advanced Pathway programs. RegisteredNursing.org also ranked LaGuardia Nursing as #1 among New York State RN Programs. Congratulations to Nursing Program Director Faith Armstrong, Health Sciences Chair Phil Gimber, and all the faculty, staff, and students involved in LaGuardia’s Nursing program!
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LaGuardia Receives Honors from Newtown Creek Alliance
On October 18, LaGuardia was honored at the Newtown Creek Alliance’s annual Tidal Toast for the work of faculty and students to restore, reveal, and revitalize Newtown Creek, a once heavily polluted waterway running behind LaGuardia between Queens and Brooklyn. At the Tidal Toast event, President Kenneth Adams accepted an award on behalf of the college, biology professor Dr. Sarah Durand received an award on behalf of faculty who have worked with the Alliance, and two former students accepted an award on behalf of the students who engage with the Alliance in research, internships, and co-curricular activities. Faculty at the Tidal Toast included Dr. Holly Porter-Morgan (Environmental Science), Dr. Joby Jacob (Biology), Dr. Ingrid Veras (Biology), and Dr. Ryan Mann-Hamilton (Social Science).
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Internationally Trained Nurse Licensed to Practice in NYC Through LaGuardia’s Welcome Back Center Speaks at Mayor’s Press Event
On Friday, October 20, LaGuardia alumna Hate Beqa, RN, spoke at a press event hosted by NYC Mayor Eric Adams about the City’s recovery from the pandemic. Ms. Beqa shared her story (and gave shout outs to LaGuardia) about emigrating from Albania and trying to find work as an nurse, which she had done for nine years before moving to the U.S. After learning that she needed her license to practice in NYC, Ms. Beqa took the nursing licensing exam, the NCLEX, twice on her own, but didn’t pass. Then she joined LaGuardia’s NYC Welcome Back Center, which (for no cost) helped her improve her English and prepare for the NCLEX, which she took again and passed. Watch a video of the event here and see Ms. Beqa speak at the 20-minute mark.
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Volunteers Needed for BLM Summit Committee
Planning for the Black Lives Matter Summit 2024 is getting underway, the only thing the committee is missing is YOU! Volunteer to join this year’s committee to assist with planning and organizing the 9th Annual Black Lives Matter Summit, taking place in April 2024. Meetings are starting soon and will take place on Zoom; if you are interested in joining the committee or have questions, please email Rachel Romain (rcharles@lagcc.cuny.edu).
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Thanksgiving Groceries Available through LaGuardia CARES
LaGuardia CARES is thrilled to announce the availability of free turkeys and trimmings to help make your Thanksgiving extra special. Pick up will be available Wednesday, Nov. 8th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students, and for faculty and staff 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in room C-107. For faster service, please visit the website and place an order online.
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Academic Calendar
LaGuardia's academic calendar was recently updated due to an error in Spring 2024 Session I details received from the Central Office. Spring 2024 Session I will be from 3/01/2024 to 6/13/2024. View full calendar online or download.
Please also take note of the CUNY Policy on Religious Accommodations.
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Fall II Book Adoptions in New Online Bookstore
LaGuardia is transitioning to a new online bookstore provider, Akademos, Inc. Book adoptions for Fall 2023 Session II can now be made on the Akademos site (log in with your CUNYfirst credentials) and are due November 15; a training video is available here. Book adoptions made through Akademos will be reflected on CUNYfirst as well. Please be advised that September 30 was the last day to make adoptions in CUNYfirst.
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Wellness Center to Host Mental Health Awareness Trainings this Semester
The Wellness Center invites faculty, staff, and students to attend an evidence-based mental health awareness training this semester. The center is offering two different kinds of trainings: Mental Health First Aid and Question-Persuade-Refer, both of which will provide participants with basic skills that can help them support and aid individuals facing a mental health crisis.
If interested, you can register here to be notified when the training dates and times are set. Here’s a bit more information about both of the trainings.
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is designed to help participants identify and assist students and other members of the community who may be struggling with a mental health challenge. The training provides the skills needed to skillfully communicate with someone in need.
- Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) is a 60-minute suicide prevention intervention training. Participants will get an opportunity to learn the common signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use, how to compassionately interact with a person in crisis and how to connect the person to appropriate help.
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Updates from LaGuardia’s Library:
- Join us November1 at 10:30 for our first workshop to review the Library’s free financial literacy book, “FinLit for Life: Teaching Financial Literacy at a Community College”
- When: Wednesday, November 1, 10:30 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.
- Where: Zoom (Register in advance to attend!)
- The Library is hosting NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) sessions! Join us next month to work on your latest writing project. Check here for more information.
- Need a one-credit class for the Fall II semester? Sign up for LRC 103, our Internet Research Strategies class. You can find more information here.
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HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES | |
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Open Enrollment for Active Employees and Retirees: November 1-30
Open enrollment is the one time during the year when you can change your benefit elections, add or remove dependents for health, dental, vision and flexible spending account plans without a qualifying life event. Open enrollment virtual benefit presentations will include an overview, program highlights and a question-and-answer period
UBO Virtual Benefit Presentation Schedule
Thursday, November 2; Each presentation will be about 30 mins. The Zoom link is the same for all presentations.
- 10 a.m. Emblem Health
- 10:45 a.m. MetroPlus Health
- 11:15 a.m. PSC-CUNY
- 12 p.m. MetroPlus
- 12:30 p.m. Emblem Health
- 1 p.m. PSC-CUNY
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2024 Flexible Spending Account Program Open Enrollment
The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program Open Enrollment Period for Plan Year 2024 is: October 2 - November 15, 2023, for an effective date of January 1, 2024. The Plan Year 2024 FSA Program Brochure and forms are available on the FSA website under "General Information”. Please refer to the FSA website (periodically) for updates to the HCFSA/DeCAP program.”
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Cyber Security Awareness Month: Protect Your Computer with Important Security Updates - Practice PC Hygiene
PC hygiene refers to the steps computer users take to improve their online security and maintain system health. The best computer hygiene includes having good antivirus software in place, as we do at LaGuardia. You can help maximize your PC’s security and operating efficiency by taking one very simple step: Leave Your Computer On.
- We strongly encourage you to logoff and lock your PC (press the “Windows” and “L” keys together) when you leave campus, but don’t turn it off. CUNY and external vendors, including Microsoft, Apple, etc., regularly release security and program updates that are automatically integrated into our entire system, usually in the evening.
- By leaving your computer on, it’s automatically updated at night so your PC will operate at peak efficiency when you logon in the morning.
- If your computer is turned off, the updates will not occur until after you turn it on which will significantly slow down your PC.
- The CUNY mandatory security updates are intended to protect the College, your computer, and your data.
We are committed to supporting your use of technology, safely and securely. If you have any cyber security questions, please contact LaGuardia's Information Security.
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LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES
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"Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can email CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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